About The West Virginia Veterans Council
In accordance with Chapter 9A, Article 1, Section 3, as amended, The West Virginia Code provides that there shall be a Veterans Council, “which shall consist of nine members who shall be citizens and residents of this state, each member must be a wartime veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States and must have served honorably”.
The Governor makes appointments to the council which are then confirmed by the State Senate. Council members are appointed for a six year term and may be reappointed. It shall be the duty and function of the Veterans Council to determine the general administrative policies of the Department of Veterans Assistance, to promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary, to examine the efficiency of the department from time to time, to exercise supervision over the operations of the department, and to advise the Governor and the legislature with respect to legislation affecting the interests of veterans, their widows, dependents and orphans.
Current Members (as of July 2012):
Randall Bare, Chairman - Sandyville
Miles Epling – Point Pleasant
Patrick Farrell - Huntington
William Harris – Glen Easton
Debra Kay Tompkins - Mount Nebo
Hershel "Woody" Williams - Ona
Robert E. Vass, Sr. – Barboursville
Cedric Greene - Charleston
James DeCarlo - Saint Albans
The State of West Virginia is and has always been foremost in providing its and daughters for the defense of our country. The patriotism of West Virginians is a matter of history. By the same token, the State of West Virginia has been foremost in caring for those who have served. The West Virginia Legislature in its wisdom in 1945 created the West Virginia Department of Veterans Affairs.
Governor Earl Ray Tomblin, in his desire to show respect and appreciation for the tremendous contributions our veterans have made to our state and to our country, signed SB 238, immediately following "A Salute to Veterans" event held at the Culture Center on March 29, 2011.
Effective July 1, 2011, pursuant to Senate Bill 238, the newly created West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance was established, with the Governor's desire that our veterans now take their rightful seat in the Governor’s Cabinet so we can better pay tribute to their needs.